Israel has accused Hamas of violating their ceasefire by handing over a different body in place of one of the hostages taken on 7 October 2023.
As part of the first phase of the month-old ceasefire, Hamas and Israel have been exchanging hostages for Palestinian prisoners.
A scheduled exchange yesterday was meant to include four bodies, including a woman and her two infant children.
However, Israel says testing shows that the children’s bodies have been returned, but not their mother.
Background
Following 15 months of war, a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel came into effect on 19 January. The agreement has three phases. Under Phase 1, hostilities between Israel and Hamas are required to cease.
During this time, Hamas is required to release 33 hostages over a six week period, including women, children, older adults, the wounded, and the bodies of the dead.
In exchange, Israel is required to release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners, including several serving life sentences.
Handover
On Thursday, Hamas released the bodies of four hostages in coffins during a staged ceremony. The United Nations condemned the “abhorrent and appalling parading of bodies” by Hamas.
The returned remains were meant to include an elderly man, and three of four members of a family — a woman in her 30s and her two children, who were aged four and nine months respectively when they were taken hostage.
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The family of four were taken from a farm near Israel’s border with Gaza on 7 October. The husband was released alive earlier this month.
Following forensic testing, Israeli authorities confirmed the identity of the man and the two children.
Authorities now allege the fourth body is neither the boys’ mother nor any other hostage.
In a post to X, the IDF said: “This is an anonymous, unidentified body. This is a violation of utmost severity”.
Hamas has yet to respond to Israel’s claims.
Exchanges
Another exchange of six living hostages for a group of Palestinian prisoners is scheduled for Saturday (local time).
Negotiations for the second phase of the ceasefire were planned to take place at the start of the month, but did not begin.
On Tuesday, Israel announced these discussions would begin this week. Early on Thursday, Hamas said if the second phase began, it would release all of the remaining hostages in one go.
It’s unclear if and how Thursday’s exchange will impact negotiations.
